Sunday, September 28, 2014

We are in Germany

This is interesting. I opened the blog so that I could type up a post and the whole blog was in German!! So I am hoping for the best.

The driver that drove us the 2 hours to the ship was full of information. For instance, Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is part of Germany. Our driver was Bavarian and he filled us with information with regard to the differences between Germans and Bavarians. It was very interesting.

And our drive to the ship was on the Audobon where there isn't a speed limit to speak of. He was driving at 120 miles an hour. Yikes.

The trip was very long and we are exhausted. When they showed us to our room, I got unpacked and then we both took a long nap. Marshall is still napping. Tomorrow we should be raring to go.

We are docked right now in Nuremburg. Tomorrow before we sail away from Nuremburg there is going to be a short bus tour of this area. Marshall should have no trouble handling a bus tour. The captain and the program director are awesome. When I explained Marshall's situation they said they would do everything they could to make it possible for him to participate in more of the shore activities.

Tonight while Marshall was still sleeping, I went down to listen to the safety/informational briefing and then they announced that dinner was starting at 7PM. I asked the program director if I could just bring food to the room because I knew Marshall wouldn't want to walk the length of the ship this evening. The captain (Captain Horvath) heard me and he brought me a menu and he delivered the food himself. That is incredible service!

I should have known -- but somehow spaced out -- that it is Oktoberfest in Germany so everyone at the airport (and also our driver) was dressed in traditional German dress.

Marshall with his wheelchair driver at Munich Airport

Our living room -- another ship is docked right behind ours.

Bathroom with window to the Danube River

I didn't take any pictures of the Danube River just yet because it isn't very pretty at all at this spot where the ship is docked.

Marshall has been feeling pretty good, just some slight travel pains. It has been challenging adjusting his medication schedule (cancer drugs need to be kind of precise) with the 8-hour time difference, but I think we got a handle on it.

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Marshall's Story (condensed)

On 3/14/12 went to emergency room with severe chest pain (turned out to be bone pain)3/17/12 diagnosed with Stage IV Prostate Cancer (metastasized to the bones), PSA was 493/29/12 Biopsy confirmed advanced cancer, with a Gleason Score of 8, PSA had risen to 953/29/12 Received a double injection of Firmagon hormone therapy (very painful!)Early April 2012, within less than a week, bone pain subsided, and he was out of bed!!4/30/12, PSA had gone down to 9! Hormone therapy changed from Firmagon to Lupron (a 3-month injection) Side effects: fatigue & hot flashes6/11/12, PSA now down to 3.9! Considering a clinical trial.6/19/12, decided against the clinical trial.7/10/12, lab work done at request of VA regarding Agent Orange claim.7/12/12, evaluation by a private doctor at request of VA.7/26/12, visit to oncologist. PSA remains at 3.9!!! Very good news. Bone strengthener postponed for 6 weeks. Next appointment 9/13/12.8/6/12, VA approved Agent Orange-prostate cancer benefits; Marshall is now considered 100% disabled. This decision will be reviewed again in six months.9/4/12, passed out, chest pain, pale, sweating, clammy, rushed to hospital by Flight for Life. Doctors were unable to find a cause, but it wasn't cancer related. Left the hospital 9/6/12.9/13/12, PSA went up to 6.6 ... depressing. CT scan, bone scan and another PSA test scheduled for 10/11/12.10/11/12, Bone scan showed no change from prior bone scan; CT scan showed slight increase in "activity"; PSA up to 10.01. Casodex is started as well as megadoses of Vitamin D2.10/18/12, Excruciating back pain, thought it was a Casodex side effect; oncologist says it is not SE. Went to clinic, got x-rays of spine, showed nothing, maybe hairline fracture, got injection of "aspirin" and started feeling better.

10/25/12, Lupron injection; Xgeva injection; flu shot. SE from Lupron was pain at injection site for several days.

1/28/13, went to emergency room with excruciating pain in right leg; no blood clot, no hairline fracture, no sciatica. Advised that fracture was imminent and to get wheelchair.

2/7/13, saw oncologist to get tests after emergency room visit. They do not agree that fracture is imminent and thought pain may be caused by withdrawal of Casodex. We go back on 3/1 for PSA test and discussion of clinical study of GTX (estrogen therapy) added to the treatment plan.

3/1/13, saw oncologist; PSA almost tripled to 31.06; started process to participate in clinical study for GTX-758.

3/4/13, not accepted in clinical study, bloodwork showed "low threshold" for clotting; will start Zytiga & prednisone on 3/12/13, started Zytiga with Prednisone;

3/17/13, FIRST PAIN FREE DAY IN MONTHS!

4/7/13, STILL PAIN FREE

4/8/13, visit to hospital for lab work; all good; PSA DOWN TO 10.23!!

4/22/13, visit to hospital for lab work; all good. Received Lupron shot. Xgeva will be stopped until calcium levels go up. STILL PAIN FREE.

5/8/13, lab work; all good. PSA down to 5.1. Got Xgeva shot.

6/12/13, lab work; PSA down to 1.45. Dehydrated, hemoglobin low. Need to come back in a week to re-check kidney function.

About Me

My husband and I retired in 2007 and moved to the mountains of Westcliffe, Colorado, to enjoy our "golden years." Now my husband has died of prostate cancer and I have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, Parkinson's, and had a pacemaker implanted. We never know what each day will bring.